Daniel's prophesy about Alexander the Great and his Kingdom

Prophesy made in 522 B.C. (Daniel 11:1)

1. . The fourth King of Persia will be rich and strong (Daniel 11:2)

 Persian Kings are:

1. Cyrus the Great reigned from 560 to 530 B.C.

2. Cambyses II reigned from 530 to 522 B.C.

3. Darius Hystaspes reigned from 522 to 486 B.C

4. Xerxes the son of Darius Hystaspes, and he reigned from 485 to 465 B.C. (known in the Book of Esther as Ahasuerus). He was very rich and influential. Thessaly, Thebes , and Argos and many others joined Xerxes, his large military and the feared Persian Immortals. Xerxes had a costly victory at the battle of Thermopylae. He had to go back to Babylon. The general he left in charge eventually lost a major battle known as the Battle of Plataea. This started the Persian empire down the trek of oblivion.

2. Alexander the Great's Quick rise to power (Daniel 11:3,4)

 Alexander the Great (356 - 323 BC), rose to power quickly and died young.

3. Alexander the Great's successors prophesized (Daniel 11:4)

 Successors of Alexander the Great was exactly like Daniel prophesized. It did not go to his son, but his four Generals split up his Kingdom. The generals were:

1. Seleucus (ca. 358 BC - 281 BC) (over Syria and Mesopotamia) - KING OF NORTH

2. Ptolemy (ca.367 BC - ca.283 BC) (over Egypt) - KING OF SOUTH

3. Lysimacus (over Thrace and portions of Asia Minor)

4. Cassander (over Macedonia and Greece).

Only Kings Seleucus and Ptolemy affected the Jewish people, so the other two kings are not in Daniels prophesy.

4. The King of the South and the princes (Daniel 11:5)

 The strong king of the South was Ptolemy I Soter (King over Egypt), The prince is Seleucus I Nicator King of the North.

5. About Bernice (Daniel 11:6)

 Ptolemy I Soter died in 283 BC and his son /Ptolemy_II_Philadelphus (309 BC - 246 BC) took over as King of the South. He gave his daughter Berenice in marriage to the King of the North, Antiochus Theos in 261 BC. She did not retain power, but was given up (poisoned).

6. Third Syrian Wars (Daniel 11:7)

For revenge, Berenice's brother now King, (Ptolemy_III_Euergetes (reigned 246 BC. - 222 BC.) went to war with Syria ( 3rd SyrianWars) (246 - 241 BC) and was victorious

7. Carried off spoils of war (Daniel 11:8)

 In addition to the "normal" spoils of war, Ptolemy also won land on the northern coast of Syria.

8. The king shall attack, but fail (Daniel 11:9)

 The King of the North (Seleucus II Calinicus) (reigned 246 - 225 BC) attempted to invade Egypt, but failed.

He was succeeded by his son Seleucus_III_Ceraunus who ruled from 225 - 223 BC murdered by his own military)

He was succeeded by his 18 year old brother Antiochus_III_the_Great who ruled from 222 -187 BC

9. However, the sons of the King of the North will be more successful (Daniel 11:10)

Antiochus III the Great attacked Egypt and captured their king (Ptolemy Philopater) (ruled 221 - 205 BC), and all winning most Syria in the Fourth Syrian War 219 - 217 .

10. And the king of the south shall be get angry, get allies and fight the king of the North and win. (Daniel 11:11)

 The king of the South Ptolemy IV Philopator (221-204 B.C.) attacked, but was driven back by Antiochus III the Great. Ptolemy IV came to meet Antiochus III at the southern borders of Israel. Ptolemy IV was successful in delaying the battle while his minister Sosibius recruited and trained a large army. With this army he defeated Antiochus at the Battle of Raphia (fought 22 June 217 BC) . According to the Greek historian Polybius, Ptolemy IV had 70,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry, and 73 war elephants and Antiochus 62,000 infantry, 6,000 cavalry, and 103 elephants

11. The King of the South shall be victorious, but by immoral living he will not profit from those victories (Daniel 11:12)

 The King of the South could have followed up on his victory by making conquering all of Syria. However, he made peace with Antiochus. He was a wicked and selfish leader who also profaned the temple of God by entering the holy place. Therefore, even though he "cast down many ten thousands" he was not permanently "strengthened thereby"

12. After a long time the King of the North will attack again (Daniel 11:13)

 After many years, Ptolemy_IV_Philopator died (204 BC) and his son and heir Ptolemy_V_Epiphanes was 5. He reigned 204 - 181 BC. Antiochus_III_the_Great took advantage of this situation and started the fifth Syrian wars by attacking with a very large force.

13. Many nations will be enemies of the King of the South, including some Jews (robbers of thy people) in a failed attempt to make Judah independent again (Daniel 11:14,15)

 Joining Antiochus_III_the_Great was Philip V of Macedonia (ruled 221 - 179 BC) and fought the boy king at Persia and Koile Syria Campaigns. The Egyptians lost badly climaxed by the Battle of Panium. While this was the end of the Ptolemy rule in Judah, it did not make Judah an independent nation.

14. So the king of the north shall come again. (Daniel 11:16,17)

 By 199 Antiochus III had established a stronghold in Israel. He tried to bring peace between Egypt and Syria by giving his 10 year old daughter, Cleopatra I to marry 16 year old Ptolemy V Epiphanes of Egypt (193 BC.), but the strategy didn't work. When Antiochus III "stood in the glorious land" he was well received because the Jews thought he was going to give them their (Judah's) land back, but he kept the land for himself. span>

15. Next, the isles where he had initial success, but not for long (Daniel 11:18)

 Antiochus III then attacked Asia Minor in 197 B.C. and Greece in 192 and "took many" of their isles and coastlines. However, Antiochus was defeated by Manius Acilius Glabrio in 191 BC. at the battle at Thermopylae. and shortly after by Scipio Asiaticus at the Battle of Magnesia. Therefore, Scipio Asiaticus was the "prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach . . . to cease".

16. Then he will go to "the fort" but not be successful and not be found. (Daniel 11:19)

 Antiochus wars and tribute he was forced to pay the Romans caused huge debts. He died in an attempt to rob a temple in Persia, in 187 BC. His son, Seleucus IV Philopator (ruled from 187 to 175 BC) , succeeded him by authority of his wife Laodice.

A final note - These words are so detailed and so accurate that scholars realize no human could have written them before the 4th century B.C. However, they are here. Postdating has been tried, but copies of Daniel were found in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Therefore, the latest attempt to refute it is to date it a few decades before the Dead Sea Scrolls copies.